The Little Elf Wally wrote about today. As usual he wrote 600 words and said nothing... I have never seen one person waste that much space as often as he dos.

UA can take LSU, but 2 games must stay

By Wally Hall

LITTLE ROCK — By now some of the disappointment has dimmed.

The LSU game is moving to Fayetteville, replaced in War Memorial Stadium by Ole Miss.

For Arkansas Razorbacks fans in central, south and eastern Arkansas, the game with LSU had become one of pride.

A Thanksgiving weekend showdown.

For the Razorbacks fans in west and Northwest Arkansas, the joy is probably still pretty intense.

Where the disappointed fans are thinking no more miracles on Markham Street, the happy fans are thinking what 10,000 Tigers fans will do for their economy, especially when the games are played on Friday.

Most of those LSU faithful would come to the Rock and tailgate starting on Tuesday or Wednesday and stay until the day after the game.

They fried their turkeys with all their secret ingredients injected into their birds. They talked, drank and ate.

Now, they’ll take over every empty lot in Fayetteville and make it a hot spot for Tigers football.

It is understandable why some are disappointed: The LSU game had become a huge sporting/social event. It was a tough ticket and a hearty party with an estimated 20,000 tailgaters who were ticketless.

Yet, there is reason for the move, and it is about recruiting.

Bobby Petrino will let his boss Jeff Long be the face man on this decision, but the football coach wanted the game moved because NCAA rules only allow recruits to make one official visit to an off-campus facility.

So at Arkansas’ season finale every other year, there were no recruits, and make no mistake, the final visit is very important. Kids tend to remember the last thing they did.

Plus, there is the fact that next year if the LSU game were in the Rock that would have meant three consecutive weekends the Razorbacks were traveling.

The Razorbacks are at South Carolina on Nov. 10, at aMm on the 17th and play LSU on the 24th (yes, it is a Saturday for now).

It seems the decision to swap one of the best teams in the SEC for one of the worst was made with one intent, to do what is best for the program.

All those disappointed fans will be over it by the time the Rebels come to town Oct. 27. It will still be a tough ticket. Arkansas has a long history with Ole Miss.

Plus, there are still two games in central Arkansas, and that should be continued beyond the 2016 contract.

The games in Little Rock connect the entire state. That’s what makes the Razorbacks special, and they are the undisputed No. 1 sports program in the state.

That’s because the family tree, rooted in Fayetteville,has a home away from home in the Rock.

Those two games make every game a family homecoming.

Kevin Crass, chairman of War Memorial Stadium, and all of the commissioners handled last week’s news with strength and dignity.

Crass and his son were at the Razorbacks basketball game Saturday and no one cheered louder or harder for the Hogs.

There is no doubt Fayetteville is no longer a sleepy college community. Northwest Arkansas is a thriving metropolis and it can easily handle six home games, and deserves every one of those.

Right now, the UA and its fans have a win-win situation.

No one is clamoring for more than one basketball game or one baseball game, which sold out in less than 24 hours. They just want to keep those and their two football games.

Granted, War Memorial Stadium isn’t as luxurious as Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium, but the grand old lady is constantly being updated and more improvements are being considered.

And the players love playing in both of their home stadiums.

Last week’s news of the game switch might have been disappointing, but it was what was best for the program, like keeping two games in central Arkansas.

Look at the benefits of the move. It will actually allow more Arkansas fans to see the Hogs in LR. LSU always used their full allotment and then some via secondary market. It will also bolster that inflated win percentage many boast about.

I love how he twists it saying LSU fans are coming up on Tuesday just for the game and staying until Saturday just for the game leaving the underlying thought that the LR economy would take a hit through less hotels, restaurants.

No, nobody in LA has any family in the LR area. And no, they wouldn't be staying with relatives for Thanksgiving. No, let's go out of state for 4 days and have a turkey sammich at a Holiday Inn. Give me a damn break with that crap.

I love how he twists it saying LSU fans are coming up on Tuesday just for the game and staying until Saturday just for the game leaving the underlying thought that the LR economy would take a hit through less hotels, restaurants.

No, nobody in LA has any family in the LR area. And no, they wouldn't be staying with relatives for Thanksgiving. No, let's go out of state for 4 days and have a turkey sammich at a Holiday Inn. Give me a damn break with that crap.

I also doubt they are allowed into the part to set up on the Tuesday before the game.

Most of those LSU faithful would come to the Rock and tailgate starting on Tuesday or Wednesday and stay until the day after the game.

That aMm game was in Starkville right? I was at it. Sleeted the entire time. The girl I was dating at the time made it all the way to the fourth quarter and then told me she couldn't feel her feet. I couldn't believe she made it that long. We wound up eating at El Sombrero and listening to Arkansas win it on a fourth down stop.

I was there. Awesome game. Maybe the drunkest/foolest I've ever been at a game, but we finally hurt all their good players (I think maybe 6-8 of their starters eventually left the game) and pulled it out at the end. I'm thinking Brandon Holmes played running back and just showed that he was the toughest MF on the field. That dude was stout.

Logged

THIS SEASON BROUGHT TO YOU BY AMERICA'S ATHLETIC DIRECTOR, JEFF LONG!!!!

Implores you bitches to just accept the unyielding, planet-crushing black hole karma of Razorback Football.

The most rain that I've seen was against Tulsa back when RRS was 2 sides and the East side was only 1 level. It rained so hard we couldn't see the field from our seats (we were on East side close to the top). I remember walking back to the car and the water coming off the hills was probably 4 inches deep.

Coming back to this one.

Probably the most rain I've seen was the 2000 Alabama game. Judas, I thought I was going to have build an ark. It was just gushing down the stands and there was a river on each sideline. All the women in our crew went back to the car at halftime from getting "cold". My brother in law at the time had this "super rain suit" (whatever). I had my trusty (and lucky) poncho. He started freezing his balls off and took off with 10 min left to go. He asked me to come to the car with 5 min to go. Yeah, sure, whatever, just leave so I can watch the ballgame. That was the game that Robby Hampton hit Poydras in the north endzone (who disappeared into the students) with seconds left to play . Man, that was a thrilling win. Got the death looks and silent treatment the whole way home, but who gives a aMm - we won!

Another gully-washer was '97 vs Auburn. Man, we sucked ass. Something like a 29 pt dog to Dameyuene Craig and came "close" (see: lost by less than 3 tds - my homer bet covered!). That was the game that we were mixing drinks in the 32 oz cups. I would chug half the cup, look down after swallowing, and the cup was filled back up with rain again. Finally said frick it and just drank straight from the pint as there weren't many around and security just didn't feel like fricking with it so long as you weren't making an ass of yourself. There weren't many that stuck around to the end of that one. I barely remember the end.

Officially, the Arkansas season finale with LSU is moving from Little Rock to Fayetteville so the Hogs can avoid a third trip away from Reynolds Razorback Stadium to end the season. Travel is the primary reason cited in a university news release, Jeff Long’s comments to us and a Bobby Petrino radio appearance.

Finding room for another 20,000 or so fans also helps. It’s no secret the Fayetteville venue is larger and presents an opportunity to generate more revenue.

But as we’ve told you since December when we learned the move was being discussed,: recruiting is a major reason for the move.

That reasoning hasn’t escaped the notice of Tony Barnhart, national football columnist for CBSSports.com. Barnhart, known as Mr. College Football, was on the Tim Brando Show and offered his thoughts on the venue swap.

Barnhart doesn’t expect the LSU game ever gets moved back to Little Rock. That weekend is too valuable to recruiting, he said:

“That’s a big recruiting weekend. When you’re off campus, guess what? You’ve got no place to take them. There is nothing to tour. You don’t have the facilities. This is a huge recruiting weekend for Arkansas for obvious reasons. That’s why — I promise you — the LSU-Arkansas game will never go back to Little Rock.”

Never?

Long stressed to me last week that the move wasn’t necessarily forever.

Officially, the Arkansas season finale with LSU is moving from Little Rock to Fayetteville so the Hogs can avoid a third trip away from Reynolds Razorback Stadium to end the season. Travel is the primary reason cited in a university news release, Jeff Long’s comments to us and a Bobby Petrino radio appearance.

Finding room for another 20,000 or so fans also helps. It’s no secret the Fayetteville venue is larger and presents an opportunity to generate more revenue.

But as we’ve told you since December when we learned the move was being discussed,: recruiting is a major reason for the move.

That reasoning hasn’t escaped the notice of Tony Barnhart, national football columnist for CBSSports.com. Barnhart, known as Mr. College Football, was on the Tim Brando Show and offered his thoughts on the venue swap.

Barnhart doesn’t expect the LSU game ever gets moved back to Little Rock. That weekend is too valuable to recruiting, he said:

“That’s a big recruiting weekend. When you’re off campus, guess what? You’ve got no place to take them. There is nothing to tour. You don’t have the facilities. This is a huge recruiting weekend for Arkansas for obvious reasons. That’s why — I promise you — the LSU-Arkansas game will never go back to Little Rock.”

Never?

Long stressed to me last week that the move wasn’t necessarily forever.

I’m not so sure.

These are not mutually exclusive statements.

Long can't officially state that the move is permanent. But anyone with a brain can see it's going to be.

When I think of wet games, that 2001 Tennessee game isn't far behind the Bama game the year before.Band couldn't even stay out, so they piped the fight song through the speakers for the running through the A. I remember the entire crowd that was brave enough to stand out in the rain singing along loudly enough to the point that it sounded like we had just all sang on our own in unison. Really fricking cool.

That was also the first night of the south endzone. Security was overwhelmed and everyone and their daughter/uncle/grandpa were in the concourse of the indoor/outdoor club areas to stay dry and warm. It was shoulder to shoulder on both levels.

Multiple lightning delays... one that I was convinced was really just because you could barely stand up straight it was raining so heavily. Clusterfuck of a night, but one people always remember.

Officially, the Arkansas season finale with LSU is moving from Little Rock to Fayetteville so the Hogs can avoid a third trip away from Reynolds Razorback Stadium to end the season. Travel is the primary reason cited in a university news release, Jeff Long’s comments to us and a Bobby Petrino radio appearance.

Finding room for another 20,000 or so fans also helps. It’s no secret the Fayetteville venue is larger and presents an opportunity to generate more revenue.

But as we’ve told you since December when we learned the move was being discussed,: recruiting is a major reason for the move.

That reasoning hasn’t escaped the notice of Tony Barnhart, national football columnist for CBSSports.com. Barnhart, known as Mr. College Football, was on the Tim Brando Show and offered his thoughts on the venue swap.

Barnhart doesn’t expect the LSU game ever gets moved back to Little Rock. That weekend is too valuable to recruiting, he said:

“That’s a big recruiting weekend. When you’re off campus, guess what? You’ve got no place to take them. There is nothing to tour. You don’t have the facilities. This is a huge recruiting weekend for Arkansas for obvious reasons. That’s why — I promise you — the LSU-Arkansas game will never go back to Little Rock.”

Never?

Long stressed to me last week that the move wasn’t necessarily forever.

I’m not so sure.

A lot will also depend on how the future sschedule shakes out. We might not be playing LSU at the end of the year when they go to a more "permanent" schedule. Who knows what will happen, especially if it goes to 9 conference games.

Ah yes, I remember the 2000 Alabama game. The infamous late whistle/gang tackle of Cedric Cobbs.

We might have won on the scoreboard but Alabama really won that day b/c they were screwed on a 4th down late pass interference flag, and if they had won that game, they were going to win the national title with a loss to LaTech.